Film Making

Are you into film-making? Are you pursuing a career in the movie industry? If so, then you might want to live in a recognized movie-making city that offers ample opportunities for you to grow. This post highlights the 5 top international cities for filmmakers.

1. Atlanta

Surprised? Don’t be. This city’s film industry generated a whopping $6 billion in 2016. Yes, the state of Georgia has the third biggest film industry in the whole of the U.S, and it looks like things will even get better. The reason behind this is that Georgia offers some pretty decent tax incentives to attract producers. A lot of locations in this city are also permit-free, which means film procedures don’t have to pay hefty permit fees. This favorable environment has seen an influx of talent flow into the state, only making things better. Some of the top TV shows produced in this city include The Vampire Diaries, and The Walking Dead, among many others. Captain American Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Accountant were all filmed in Atlanta (and Georgia in large) over the last few years. Atlanta is no doubt the first city you should think about if you’re keen on a film industry career.

2. Toronto

For many years, US producers who are on a tight budget have crossed the border and set camp north in an attempt to cut costs. There’s a never-ending list of movies that have been shot in this filmmaking city. Among others, they include Mean Girls, American Psycho, and Crash (1996). London’s popular Pinewood Studios decided to call Toronto home, shining a bright light on the city’s future film industry.

3. Albuquerque

When you think of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad TV Show, Albuquerque New Mexico comes to mind. In fact, this TV Show is what catapulted the city into the limelight as a filming destination. But many popular films have been shot in New Mexico over the years. These include No Country for Old Men, Silkwood, Avengers (2002), and Frank (the comedy by Lenny Abrahamson), among many others. The state has put together a serious of clever incentives to attract filmmakers to the city over the years. It’s no wonder Albuquerque is so popular with low-budget indie producers.

4. London

This list would never be complete without London in it, or would it? The city has definitely earned its stars as an international filming destination. It’s no surprise that London is often referred to as ‘The Hollywood of Europe’. The city’s prowess as a filming destination has been cemented for decades. Incredible landmarks such as the Buckingham Palace, the Tower Bridge, and Westminster ring a bell on many people’s mind – even for those who’ve never been to London. Some of the biggest London-based filming firms, Warner Bros Studios and Pinewood Studios, have greatly contributed to the success of this city. So if you want to try your luck on being a member of the team that creates the next James Bond, Notting Hill, Love Actually or Wonder Woman move – go to London.

5. Los Angeles

Home to Hollywood – Los Angeles is an obviously great destination for anyone who harbors aspirations in the film industry. Over a century, the city has claimed its spot as the world’s premier filming hub – thanks to ample filming infrastructure. Training opportunities around Los Angeles has helped produced some of the greatest acting talent in the world. There are millions of people looking for acting, script writing, and other opportunities in the film making business here. Keep in mind though that competition in LA might be a bit steeper than in the other cities on this list.

Many people get into Hollywood looking to be big shot directors. There’s nothing wrong with that – in fact, it’s good to be so ambitious. The fact of the matter though is that there are only so many spots for directors and big producers. The good news is that there are many other opportunities in the movie industry that may be just as interesting and lucrative. This post highlights the top 11 business opportunities in the movie industry 2018.

1. Acting

Just like being a producer, acting is not for everyone. You need to be talented if you want to stand out of the crowd and make a name for yourself. So if you think you have the skills and believe in yourself, go right ahead. Being an actor or actress can be one of the most lucrative opportunity in the film industry.

2. Scriptwriting

Every movie that is filmed in Hollywood needs a script. If you’re creative, you might want to give scriptwriting a shot. Some of the best script writers in Hollywood right now started out as playwrights, novelists, journalists, or professional writers. If you have a knack for creating cohesive and creative stories, you might make a lot of money in the film industry as a scriptwriter.

3. Art Director

An art director (sometimes also referred to as a movie director) works with the producer and other directors to ensure a detailed set, as well as great locations/surroundings for films. The art director also has a duty to ensure that each actor or actress plays their role well. As a director, you won’t be involved in the financial side of film-making, but it’s your job to make sure that the artistic vision is perfectly executed.

4. Photography

Photography/Cinematography is another major opportunity available in the movie industry. Your role here is to translate the script writers’ narrative and director’s artistic vision into video. To make it as a cinematographer in Hollywood, you need to be an expert in camera technology.

5. Movie Auditing

Movie auditors are responsible for tracking the production cost and making sure that expenses do not exceed the budget. The auditor is like an accountant who needs to ensure that every penny spent during the creation of the film is accounted for.

6. Movie Animation

Are you a trained computer animator? Then you might be able to make some good money helping create animations in the movie industry. Your role as an animator is to create characters with emotions and dialogue. Think of it as being a virtual puppeteer.

7. Choreography

If you’re an incredible dancer, then you might be able to make a living as a choreographer in the movie industry. The role of choreographers is to create dance sequences in the film. As a choreographer, you can make or break a movie based on the dance themes or musicals that you select.

8. Talent Hunter/Agent

How about being the deal maker? As a talent agent, you can search scripts for directors you represent. Talent agents are also (often) involved in promotional and sponsorship activities on behalf of their clients (movie-makers).

9. Makeup Artist

Do you fancy working with different types of makeups and changing how people look? If so, then you can make a career as a makeup artists in the film industry. Your job is to apply makeup to lead actors/actresses and extras in a film. Makeup artists follow the vision and characters envisioned by the scriptwriter to get the job done.

10. Movie Marketing

This is a major role in the film industry. Once produced, every movie needs marketing so that it can be popularized in front of the audience. The purpose of a movie marketer is to ensure maximum distribution for the film. This position is still important, but might be phased out in the future as the internet eats away at the traditional film business model.

11. Costume Design

Costume designers are the folks who clothe actors and extras in a movie. They will select the color, style, fabric, and quality of clothing and other costume (and accessories) used in the movie. To be a costume designer, you need to be a fashion star who understands the impression of various colors, clothing, and styles.

Thanks to technology and other growth factors, the movie industry is always changing. Film producers, directors, and other stakeholders are always looking for ways to keep up with rampant trends in the industry. This article highlights the 8 most prominent trends in the film industry 2018.

1) Computer Generated Imagery and Practical Effects

A few years ago, everyone would have thought that Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) would be replacing practical effects as far as special effects are concerned. But this has turned out not to be the case. Practical effects have made a major comeback in the space – and it appears like they’ll be here to stay. Some of the major films using practical effects include Max Max: Fury Road, an Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In the foreseeable future, practical effects will continue to play a role alongside CGI.

2) Evolving Consumer Ecosystems

The rise of direct-to-consumer platforms such as Netflix and Amazon is keeping film procedures up all night. Powered by stable, better internet connections, this trend isn’t slowing down any time soon. This disruption in the industry’s traditional business model has an impact on the production, distribution, and marketing of films. Players in the sector have no option but to learn to work within these evolving consumer ecosystems. On the positive side, the new tech-based platforms have opened an easy worldwide market for film producers.

3) What’s Next for Virtual and Augmented Reality

Never-ending changes in technology are also having a direct influence on the storytelling. In the recent past, technology has enabled virtual reality (computer generated simulations of 3-dimensional images/environments). Upcoming technology will give a push to augmented reality, which has been lagging behind on multiple fronts.

4) Low-Budget Films are Cropping Up Online

There’s a boom of short low-budget films available on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and other video platforms. As technology makes distribution of films easier, student groups and little known producers are using these platforms to launch their productions. This trend is going to continue into the future, and as consumers spend a lot of time on the social web – the low-budget films will be able to compete for more of the consumers’ time.

5) Increased Diversity in Films

Perhaps due to increased social commentary, we are seeing more and more diversity in films. Female leads are showing up in traditionally male roles, and racial diversity is becoming a common thing in films that traditionally included an all-white cast. The film industry is – and will continue to be – more accommodative of diversity, flexibility, and creativity.

6) More Films Based on Real-Life Events

Statistics show that less than 7% of films in US Cinemas were based on real-life events in 1996. Fast forward to 2016 (2 decades later) and the situation is entirely different – up to 27% of films are inspired by real life events. The majority of these films are low-budget, with the romantic comedy taking up the biggest percentage of films that are based on real-life.

7) Faith-Based Films are Becoming More Profitable

Faith-based films are becoming intensely profitable in the market. In fact, some of the most profitable films created over the last 10 years were targeted for Christians. A good example is ‘The Passion of the Christ’, which used a $30 budget but ended up grossing a whopping $612 million in the box office. This was a record 2,040% box office-budget ratio. Other faith-based movies that have been very successful include ‘God’s Not Dead’, ‘War Room’, ‘Heaven Is for Real’, and ‘Courageous’.

8) We Have Here a Horror Movie Boom

Over the last few years, film production levels have been increasing across genres. But no sector has seen a faster boom than the ‘Horror’ genre. In 2016 alone, over 1,000 horror movies were churned out, accounting for 12% of all films produced in the year. This is a far cry from the situation 20 years ago in 1996, when horror films constituted just 4% of total film production.